Thursday, September 29, 2011

Aren't these Marc Jacobs mouse flats so cute? I know they're quite silly, but I love them so much! A great way to have fun with an otherwise plain outfit. Pair these shoes with your favorite skinny jeans, a basic tee, a scarf to layer, and you're good to go!

Tuesday, September 27, 2011

Valerie bought this skirt a couple months ago. I remember admiring the fun, quirky squares of this skirt when she modeled it in the fitting room at Anthropologie. The fitting room attendant and I both agreed that Valerie looked great in it. Unfortunately at the time, I could not afford it myself, but I stalked this skirt online and in stores until it finally went on sale. Although I still think $79.95 is a bit steep for a skirt, I just loved it so much that I had to have it. I believe this skirt fits true to size - Valerie got her usual size 0, I got my usual size 2. The skirt has a nice stretchy lining, which hugs your curves nicely. And it has two front pockets, which are very convenient. I wore mine today for the first time at work, and I got several compliments on it. I did read the customer reviews online about this skirt (which I always do) and pretty much every person complained about the little black squares being snagged. I know you can't see it very well in this picture, but the little black squares are actually just black thread woven throughout the skirt. So today when I wore it, I made sure to be extra self-conscious to avoid any snags. Well, I put this skirt on at 6:15 am, drove to work, walked to my classroom, and by 7:30 am, there was a HUGE snag on one of the squares. Great. And this was a result of me being super careful, so I really have no idea where that snag came from. So if you have this skirt, YES, it will get snagged no matter how careful you are. It's a fact that you just have to come to terms with. I've thought about ways of preventing this, even considering spraying my skirt with hairspray like I used to do with my pantyhose to keep it from snagging, but the idea of spraying my $80 skirt was unappealing. So if any of you out there have any quick fixes or ideas, do share!

I paired my skirt with The Gathering Tank in kelly green by Deletta. I was considering wearing it with my red-orange Pilcro Soft Bands Tee, but I wasn't sure if the color-combo would look too Halloween-y.

The Gathering Tank by Deletta

On sale $29.95 (originally $48)

www.anthropologie.com

I think the fun of wearing this skirt is finding different tops to pair it with. I think it would look great with lots of different colors. Red would give it a retro feel, while a dark navy blue would give it a more elegant, sophisticated look (which is how I plan on wearing it next). I think I will stick to wearing solid tops with this skirt, but if you want to sport the signature Anthropologie style, have fun and pair it with a patterned top. Or if you're not feeling quite that bold yet, then consider wearing a solid-colored top with some texture (as shown above) or an interesting detail. Here are some ideas:

On sale $39.95 (originally $78)Lundin Links Sweater by Moth

www.anthropologie.com

The neckline gives this top just enough detail to set it apart from just any old sweater.

Slug Sash Tee by Bailey 44

$88

www.anthropologie.com

I like how the sexiness of the cutouts juxtaposes the sophistication of the skirt.

Erna Lace Top by BCBG

$218

www.bcbg.com

Make sure to wear this top tucked in for a more fitted look and to show off the waist details of the skirt.

Or if you're feeling really fun and bold, you can pair this skirt with a big flower sweater, as seen on Emma Pillsbury on tonight's episode of Glee!

Monday, September 26, 2011

Crazy, right? But super sexy at the same time. I tried these on at Dillard's the other day and John thought it looked like I was about to mug someone with these shoes. I don't care - I love them. They are so funky, and surprisingly very easy and comfy to walk in. When it comes to shoes, I'm between sizes - I can either go with 6 1/2 or 7, and the 6 1/2 in these fit me perfectly. I have been eyeing these for quite some time now, but they never seem to go on sale :(

These shoes would look great paired with skinny jeans to show off the spiked heel. Or you can wear them to spice up a little black dress. Definitely a great shoe for a night out on the town with your girlfriends or out to dinner with friends at a trendy restaurant.

They remind me of the Christian Louboutin Alti Spiked pumps, as seen on many celebrities. I think the Sam Edelman shoes are a good alternative, considering the Louboutins retail for well over $1000.

Sunday, September 25, 2011

I heard about Sprinkles Cupcakes as a result of reading one-too-many celebrity magazines and watching a lot of E! Apparently, this is THE celebrity cupcake of choice. So when John and I saw a Sprinkles in Chicago, we just knew we had to try it. These cupcakes were the BEST cupcakes ever! So moist, so delicious, and not too rich. Just the right amount of flavor and sweetness. Plus, they're just so darn cute!

There were so many delicious flavors to choose from, but John and I decided to get the strawberry and chocolate marshmallow. AND they also sold Coke in the old-school glass bottles, which is always a plus for John.

This is me about to eat the most delicious cupcake ever!

I would've taken a picture of John, but he had already devoured his.

I would highly recommend these cupcakes to anyone who is lucky enough to live near one of their bakeries. But if you don't, Williams Sonoma sells an alternative - Sprinkles Cupcake Mix (only $14.95 and it yields 12 cupcakes. A steal considering each cupcake at the actual bakery sells for $3.50). I've yet to try this mix myself, but I've read the customer reviews, and apparently making these cupcakes is no piece of cake (look for an upcoming post on how much I love puns). Supposedly, there's a lot of technique that goes into making these, more than what's required of your typical Betty Crocker mix. One day I'll purchase one of these mixes (maybe I'll start with the dark chocolate mix) and report back what I think.

www.williams-sonoma.com

In the meantime, another good alternative would be Cami Cakes. If you have one of these bakeries near you, I would also give these a try. They also have many delicious flavors to choose from, and if you place a customized order, you can get yours super fresh, which of course is when they are the most delicious. Plus, they are only $2.50 each and if you order 11 cupcakes, you get the 12th one free!

Saturday, September 24, 2011

John and I just got home from the Anthropologie Pet Adoption event. Unfortunately, we came home empty-handed. They were only giving away pugs, and John thought they were absolutely hideous. In true "Johnny raincloud" form, he wouldn't even get close to them or take a picture with his iPhone when I asked him to. I personally thought they were adorable. I wish I had taken a picture to show you all, because they didn't look like typical pugs. There was one that was all grey, with an exceptionally wrinkled and pudgy face, making it look even cuter. They were so calm and well-behaved, and they appreciatively looked up at you with their wide eyes when you knelt down to pet their adorable faces.

I recently purchased a pair of white pants after being inspired by this photo of Jennifer Aniston.

This time of the year is a perfect time to purchase a pair of white pants since the summer season is slowly coming to an end and all of them are going on sale. I was able to snag this pair of AG Stevies from Anthropologie for only $39.95, when they usually retail for around $168.

www.anthropologie.com

I love the crisp look and feel to them. They have a bit of stretch so they are so comfortable and they are very figure-flattering. Of course they are too long on me, so I will have to get them hemmed, but I'm used to that anyway. I can't wait to pair these pants with my red-orange Pilcro Soft Bands Tee (I love orange and white together!) or my Papercrane Ikebana Mosaic Tee, both recently purchased from Anthropologie for only $19.95, marked down from $48 and $68, respectively.

www.anthropologie.com

I also plan on wearing my white pants with a grey tank top and strappy sandals and even try to find an outfit to match Aniston's above. I think her outfit looks fabulous. I love the layers and the combination of neutral colors, which Aniston has mastered - she always looks so effortlessly chic. Not too trendy, always classy with clean lines and silhouettes. I was initially worried that white pants would only make sense during the Spring/Summer season, but Aniston's outfit looks like something I can wear during the fall months, so I won't have to retire my white pants too soon!

Friday, September 23, 2011

John and I are huge fans of Bill Maher. We try to catch his show on HBO Friday nights whenever we can. We also had the pleasure of watching him live at the Florida Theater a few months ago (it was my anniversary present to John). One of the reasons we love him so much is because he tells it how it is. He's very honest with his views and he doesn't make excuses for anyone (unlike many Americans these days, who seem to make excuses for everything and maintain such an unrealistic sense of entitlement). We agree with a lot of Maher's political views, although his are a bit more liberal than ours. But one of the main reasons we like him so much is because of his support for teachers and his opinions on our educational system.

So if you are a parent, PLEASE instill the value of hard work and a good education in your kids. Hold your children accountable. Give them responsibility. Pry that cell phone out of their hands (and that calculator while you're at it). Encourage reading (books, newspapers, magazines, whatever!), good spelling, and for heaven's sake, punctuation! (OMG shkspear wud roll ova n his grave wit da way kidz sp dese daiz.) Trust me, a well-educated child starts in the home.

Thursday, September 22, 2011

This weekend, Anthropologie is hosting their annual pet adoption event. John is actually seriously thinking about letting me get a dog!!! I am so excited about this. I've been wanting a dog for a very long time now, even picking out a couple names (Oliver for a boy, Olive for a girl). But John has put his foot down because a) we live in a tiny, third-floor condo, b) he doesn't want to get emotionally attached to yet another pet, and c) have I mentioned we live in a TINY, THIRD-FLOOR condo? That's not an ideal situation when you're talking about walking your dog out to use the restroom at all odd hours of the day. Plus, our tiny place is not very conducive to dog-play. Anyway, John has somehow warmed up to the idea, probably because I showed him a picture of the CUTEST dog ever:

Samoyed puppies

I read on Wikepedia (always the reliable source) that Samoyeds have friendly personalities and maintain a permanent happy expression, which I think makes them just so darn cute.

The adoption event is in a couple days, so I will report back this weekend on what we find (and of course, if we bring anything home with us!) Since John's beloved family dog, Chloe, passed away recently, we'll also be on the lookout for a dog for John's Mom. Wish us luck!

Wednesday, September 21, 2011

The Anthropologie Sailboats Boy Tee is one of my favorite shirts. When it first hit stores, I knew I had to have it. I thought the design was so whimsy and cute, and the colors give it an almost vintage look. Plus, the boy fit is so comfy. Whenever I need a shirt to make me feel happy, I reach for this one. It just puts a smile on my face.

Sailboats Boy Tee by Pilcro

$38

www.anthropologie.com

At my local Anthro, this shirt was shown on a mannequin paired with the Cartonnier Checked Crops. I thought the combination was so cute, but since I don't have these pants, I plan on pairing my top with the Pilcro Aylesbury cords from a couple seasons ago.

Tuesday, September 20, 2011

So in anticipation of tonight's season 3 premiere, I've decided to dedicate this post to all my Glee favorites, from characters, to episodes, to songs.

FAVORITE CHARACTERS

Rachel Berry

How could I not love the main character of this show? She's your typical go-getter, a bit neurotic, but still lovable at the same time.

Sue Sylvester

Ok, this woman is frightening, but she's still so much fun to watch. And you just never know what she's going to say next.

Brittany S. Pierce

Her one-liners are hilarious.

BUT probably the best one-liner comes from Santana Lopez:

FAVORITE EPISODE

"The Power of Madonna"

I actually didn't start watching Glee from the very beginning. I had heard a lot of hype about the show, but for some reason, never tuned in. That is, until the Madonna episode. I kept seeing so many commercials for it, that I thought, "Ah, what the heck? Why not?" And I've been hooked ever since. I loved all the musical numbers from this episode, and the way they incorporated the songs into each character's storyline was perfect.

FAVORITE SONGS

Although I do love pretty much every song covered by Glee, below are some of my favorites, the ones that I never seem to skip (and instead, repeat) whenever they come up on my iPod.

"Poker Face" by Lea Michelle feat. Idina Menzel

"Don't Rain On My Parade" by Lea Michele

"Ain't No Way" by Amber Riley

"Singing in the Rain/Umbrella" by the Glee Cast

"New York State of Mind" by the Glee Cast

"Toxic" by the Glee Cast

"Like a Virgin" by the Glee Cast

Unfortunately, I was unable to embed any YouTube videos for the songs above, but I was able to manage this one:

Monday, September 19, 2011

Last night was the 63rd Emmy Awards. I always look forward to these shows, not so much for the telecast itself, but for the red carpet. Below are some of my favorites, followed by some not-so-favorites.

Sofia Vergara in Vera Wang

www.celebuzz.com

HOT! HOT! HOT! I thought this woman was by far the best-dressed of the evening. This dress shows off her curves perfectly. Classy with just the right amount of sexiness. And that color is absolutely beautiful against her skin tone.

Kate Winslet in Elie Saab

www.harpersbazaar.com

This woman is stunning. She just oozes elegance, grace, and sexiness all at the same time.

Nina Dobrev in Donna Karan

www.usmagazine.com

I thought this dress fit her fabulously. Even though she is a petite girl, I thought the dress helped highlight her curves. However, the only thing I did not like about the dress was the detailing towards the hem. If you look closely, those are just red fabric squares sewn on the bottom. I wish it looked a bit more finished, but other than that, I thought she looked great.

Kristen Wiig in Zac Posen

www.socialitelife.com

I know this look will probably get panned by E!'s Fashion Police, but I actually really liked this dress. I love the plunging neckline and the ombre effect. The color is also a nice transition into the fall months. Maybe it was the person wearing it. I'm sure if someone like Jessica Alba wore this, she would look stunning.

And now for the not-so-best-dressed.

Julianna Marguiles in Armani Prive

www.harpersbazaar.com

The color, the cut, the weird detailing on the bodice - it's just all wrong.

Minka Kelly in Christian Dior

www.harpersbazaar.com

While this dress was by no means the worst of the evening, I was just expecting someone as gorgeous as Minka to choose something a bit more sexy. Although I think the color is beautiful and the sleeves add an elegant touch, I think she should have saved this dress for a different event.

Heidi Klum in Christian Siriano

www.huffingtonpost.com

This dress could've looked really cute and sweet, but I just wish the ruffled hem were toned down a bit. Other than that, I think Heidi looks great and the taupe, blush color is so pretty.

Sunday, September 18, 2011

With a house, that is. John and I went house-hunting yet again (third weekend in a row!) and we saw this amazing house on College Street - 5 bedrooms(!), 3 bathrooms, a HUGE dining room, fireplace, a two-car garage with a GINORMOUS work space...I could go on and on. All I could see was all the potential - all John could see were dollar signs. Which was true - this house did require quite a bit of work, namely the kitchen and the bathrooms, but boy, would it be an amazing house in the end. John is still not quite sure - he's a self-proclaimed "realist" - I like to think of him as a "johnny raincloud" instead.

But being the wonderful husband that he is, John did indulge me for a few moments, and we both fantasized about how we could turn this house into our dream home.

Front of the house. It's a good thing John's mom has a green thumb, because those bushes have just got to go. We would like to maybe put a really pretty flowerbed there instead.

The living room. I love those cabinets.

More "stairs with character." Look at that stained-glass window. Isn't that pretty?

And this was a little nook right next to the stairs on the 2nd floor. Still trying to figure out what I would do with that narrow space.

The dining room. Look how HUGE it is! Such a great entertaining space.

The ugliest kitchen I have ever seen in my life. Seriously - wood panelling? Green appliances? This is where the renovations would start. We were thinking about knocking down the wall where the door is and creating one huge open space between the kitchen and the dining room.

The backyard. I know it looks small, but that's a plus for me and John. We wanted something very low-maintenance since we both hate yard work (and I am not an outdoorsy person at all).

The garage. Check out all this space! We could definitely fit at least 4 cars in here. And it serves as a ton of storage space.

Bedrooms 1 and 2. That's a picture of a closet that serves as a doorway between the two rooms. John and I were thinking our hypothetical future children would have a lot of fun with that.

For some reason, all the bedrooms had their own sink. We were thinking that the house used to be a boarding school at one point. John thought they were kind of a nice feature, but I'm thinking they have to go.

For some reason, I completely forgot to take a picture of the master bedroom, but here's a picture of the master bathroom and what else? A second kitchen. We were thinking about tearing down the wall between the two and just creating one huge master bathroom.

These are the other bathrooms in the house. The pink one is the guest bathroom downstairs (one that you might use one day!) and the other one is upstairs.

Look at all this storage space! This closet was in the hallway on the 2nd floor.

And the weirdest feature of this house (even weirder than the sinks and the 2nd kitchen in the master bedroom) was a tiny closet in one of the bedrooms, just big enough to hold this mannequin.

John found it really creepy, but I kinda like it. I'm sure I could find a use for it somehow.

As of now, we're definitely keeping this house on our list. It has many of the features that we want. However, the price isn't quite right yet, especially with all the renovations that need to me made. But I still think it's a really beautiful home with lots of potential.